Public Health Risk in Dairy Chain in Pakistan Professor Ghulam Habib Livestock & Dairy Specialist PEEP, Lahore
Outline Introduction Problem statement Milk Infections Mycotoxins in milk Toxic metals in milk Milk Adulterants Chemical & Drug residues Way Forward
Introduction Food-borne diseases are a threat and are responsible for >50% cases of mortality to children Bacterial milk contamination causes: Milk spoilage Milk-born zoonotic diseases Non bacterial contamination & adulterants in milk are on rise in Pakistan and has sparked consumers health concern Dairy industry in Pakistan is dominated by unpasteurized milk & informal markets ---open to contamination
Problem Statement Risks of milk safety hazards in informal market are high and undocumented in Pakistan Previous studies on public health risks along the milk chain in Pakistan are ; scarce unorganized poorly designed based on traditional less sensitive diagnostic tests used piece meal approach
Milk Infection & Contaminants Microbial Brucella spp. Campylobacter spp. Escherichia coli (STEC) Listeria monocytogenes Salmonella spp. Staphylococcus aureus Mycobacterium spp. Yersinia enterocolitica Cryptosporidium, etc Chemical Heavy metals (Pb, CU, Cd etc.) Aflatoxins /mycotoxins Pesticides and other agrochemicals Drug residues (antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, etc.) Hormones Adulterants (Non-food chemicals)
Entry Points Systemic cow diseases (e.g. bovine TB, brucellosis) Infection of the cow's udder (mastitis) Bacteria that live on the skin of cows Environment (e.g. feed, feces, dirt, washing utensils/equipment) Insects, rodents, and other animal vectors Human actions accidental deliberate
Exposure: Milk Consumption High milk consumption in Pakistan poses greater Public Health Risk Milk Products Liquid milk
Shahid et al. 2014 Brucellosis Agent: Gram-, non-motile, cocco-bacillus Ecology: Concentration in milk, urine and genital fluids of infected animals Manifestation: Undulating fever, arthralgia, arthritis, orchitis, endocarditis Illness: severe, not self- limiting Occupational Groups Hospitalized patients in Peshawar Positive cases (SPAT) Positive % Farmers 256 84 32.8 Employees 226 66 29.2 Others 196 53 27.0 High prevalence in human in KP
Brucellosis in High Risk Groups in District Faisalabad Occupationally Exposed Groups Samples SAT Positive PCR Positive Veterinary Professionals 33 7 (21.2%) 2 (6.06%) Livestock farmers 48 23 (44.2%) 9 (17.30% Butchers 14 7 (50.0%) 3 (21.4%) Total 95 37 (38.94%) 14 (14.7% Farmers relatively at high risk Asif et al. 2014
Prevalence of brucellosis in cattle & buffalo in KP Shamim et al. 2014 #70 Other studies show that brucellosis is higher in buffalo than cattle Higher in Sheep, goats than cattle Higher in exotic than local breeds High in urban than rural Bakhtullah et al. 2014
Brucellosis One of the most widespread zoonosis in the world after Rabies. Brucellosis has a considerable impact on animal and human health, with wide socio-economic impacts Endemic in Pakistan Transmitted thru drinking un-boiled milk & handling cows/buffaloes
Escherichia coli (0157:H7) Agent: Gram- motile rod, high genetic diversity Ecology: Commensal in lower intestine of warm-blooded animals Manifestation: severe acute hemorrhagic diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, severe kidney problem in children & brain problems in elderly Illness: severe but usually selflimiting
High milk contamination by notorious E.Coli in Pakistan Sample #: 20 each case Location: Tandojam Soomro et al. 2002
E. coli, all Serotypes
Campylobacter jejuni & coli Raw milk (various species) 70% C. Jejuni 30% C. Coli ( FA, Isd, Lhr) Milk products (various) Gram-, motile spiral bacteria within host, coccal outside host Manifestation: diarrhea with cramps, fever and pain & nervous system disorders
Salmonella enterica Manifestation: Diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and abdominal cramps & may cause serious complications in vulnerable individuals Illness: serious but usually selflimiting Positive Salmonella Mean Count (CFU/ml) Reference Pakistan (Distt. Lahore, 10 locations) 100% bulk sample (#100) 4600 to 5600 Farhan & Salik, 2007 India ( 5 location) 70% Bulk sample (#50) - Pant et al. 2013
Staphylococcus aureus Milk samples from 10 locations in District Lahore all positive Count ranged from 7.1 to 12.6 x 10 6 cfu/ml (Farhan & Salik, 2007) Whole milk & Ice creams potential source Gram+, clustered coccal bacteria Toxin-induced abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea, vomiting and fever
Mycobacterium.. Milk & Feaces as main source of infection spread 56% of the Positive buffalo were found shed mycobacteria in milk & feaces Findings of different authors in different years ( Imtiaz, et al. 2008)
Mycotoxins Class of toxins produced by molds Aspergillus flavus & A. parasiticus Approx. 20, of which B1, B2, G1 and G2 most common Aflatoxins M1, M2 - metabolites of B1 and B2 - in the milk of animals fed on moldy feed MRL in milk: USA 500 nanogram/lit; EU 50 ng/lit Mycotoxins as Animal-Agriculture Issue with negative impact Food Safety Public Health Animal Health & Prod Trade
Target organs of Mycotoxins Damage the liver leading to necrosis, cirrhosis and cancer Suppress the immune system Acute poisoning: Abdominal pain, vomiting, convulsions, edema, hemorrhaging Chronic poisoning: Growth and development impairment, liver cancer
Mycotoxins impact in dairy cows
AFM1 in Milk
AFM1 in Milk
B1 Toxin (ppb) Toxin Level in Local Feeds & Buffalo Milk 350 300 250 200 150 Aziz et al., 2011 100 50 0 Cottonseed cake Maize oil cake Wheat Bran Mouldy Bread Clean Bread Feed B1 (ppb) M1 (µg/lit) Milk yield (l/day) Concentrate + Normal bread Concentrate + Moldy bread 94 0.39 7.7 281.75 0.92 6.5 Aziz et al., 2011
Mycotoxin Excretion in Milk (Punjab) Sample # Positive % AFM (ug/lit or kg) Local milk shop 175 78% 0.002 1.6 29% Household milk 40 62% 0.03-1.9 45% Dairy Farm 17 88% 0.002 0.79 41% Sweet shop 138 97% 0.01 1.5 78% Study-2 (Jabbar M. et al 2013) 31 % Local Milk samples- : 0.252 ug/liter 97% Local Sweets samples: 0.480 ug/kg Vs EU permissible Standard 0.05 ug/liter 400-800% higher AFM1 % Exceeded EU limit Asma et al. 2012
AFM1 in UHT milk samples in Karachi Sample # Positive AFM1 ng/lit Company -A 20 3 (15%) 49.8 102.8 Company-B 30 4 (13%) 29.3-98.8 Company-C 30 2 (7%) 39.3 90.6 Fresh Milk (4 location) 60 20 (33%) 42.1 342.6 (Raza, 2006)
Annual Deaths and Liver Disease Related Mortality (case study Pakistan) High mycotoxins ingestion contribute to liver diseases Every 4th patient admitted in medical ward has liver related disorders in Pakistan http://www.jpmsonline.com /jpms-vol2-issue2 Umar & Bilal. 2012
Heavy metals in Milk Cadmium, copper, chromium, lead (Pb), etc. Sources: Sewerage water use for drinking, irrigation, washing, industrial production processes, road traffic Accumulation in kidneys, liver and bone-marrow, Interferes with development of nervous system (children at high risk!!) Symptoms: abdominal pain, headache, anemia, seizures, coma Effects on kidneys and blood reversible, those on nervous system not MRL in milk: 20 microgram per liter
Pb Contamination of Milk
Heavy Metal in Buffalo Milk around Peshawar High Correlation Coefficient of Milk & Water contents (R 2 = 0.82) Water source as major cause of high metals in milk (drinking, washing, irrigation) (5 farms per Zone, 4 buff/farm) Rajwali, 2010
mg/liter Heavy metal in milk of cows & goats raised along sewerage drain in Faisalabad 50.00 40.00 42.69 Daily Intake Vs WHO Tolerable limit Cd From 215 ml milk (ug) Tolerable limit ug/d/person 7016 Cr 229 60 Pb 4057 245 Ni 4816 275 30.00 20.00 10.00 0.00 Cow milk Goat milk 22.40 19.52 18.87 1.07 1.15 0.08 Cd Cr Ni Pb Ijaz et al. 2009
Toxic metals in milk samples from different sources in Hyderabad City Tasneem et al. 2009 Farm (6x10) ug/lit Shops (6x10) ug/lit Packed (6x10) ug/lit Al 1660 ± 187 1750 ± 156 1860 ± 137 Cd 44.2 ± 2.31 56.3 ± 3.14 54.2 ± 2.84 Ni 211 ± 15.3 223 ± 22.6 215 ± 14.7 Pb 47.6 ± 5.21 55.2 ± 4.23 50.6 ± 4.82 Higher levels of toxic elements in milk from shops (bulk milk & exposure to traffic pollutants) Packed milk higher in toxic metal than milk sampled from farms
Adulterants in milk in Pakistan Urea / Melamine (as protein booster) 30% Substandard cooking oil 70% Powdered water chestnut 40% Formalin 35% Penicillin for enhancing thickness & fragrance 47% Hair removing powder 27% Soda bicarb/borax 35% (Vety Views and News June 8-15, 2010)
Adulterants in loose and packed milk (QCL-UVAS, 2009)
Pesticides in cow milk (200 samples collected from 2 location near Faisalabad;10/loc/month) ppm MRL (WHO 1997) ppm Cyhalothrin 0.38 ± 0.02 0.20 Endosulfan 0.26 ± 0.02 0.50 Chlorpyrifos 0.072 ± 0.01 0.01 Cyprmethrin 0.085 ± 0.02 0.05 17-20% milk samples exceeded MRL Enter through feed consumed by the animal High risk of pesticides in milk---poisoning Infants at high risk of neurodevelopmental problems (Faqir Mohammad et al. 2012)
Pesticide Toxicity Signs and Symptoms in Adults Eye Miosis Blurring CNS Lungs GI Glands Muscle Heart Fatigue Dizziness Headache Tremors Ataxia Seizures LOC Coma Insomnia Mental Δ Tightness Wheezing Cough Rhinorrhea Abd. cramps Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea Drooling Sweating Tearing Weakness Cramps Fasciculations Tachy Brady BP BP
Signs of Pesticide Poisoning in Children Lethargic sleepy Seizures Coma Can be confused with the flu
Hormones Growth hormones used for milk increase Oxytocin use for milk let down Impact on Animal Health & reproduction? Human Health? Unknown in local context?
Drug and Antibiotic Residues in milk Residues of about 80 drugs identified in animal source food by US-FDA Antibiotics are most frequently & indiscriminately used in Pakistan ß - lactam is the oldest group of antibiotics which are frequently used for the treatment of sick animals in Pakistan.(Penicillin, Ampicillin Oxacillin, Amoxicillin, Dicloxacillin,Cephalexin and Cephairin) implicated in a wide variety hypersensitivity reactions of multisystems (Skin, bone marrow, lungs, liver and heart)
Antimicrobial Drug Residues in milk in Sindh Sampling from 5 cities Mangsi et al. 2014 Khaskhali et al, 2008
Way Forward Raining Farmers and Consumers awareness on human health threats in milk Focused, properly planned & transdisciplinary research using modern & sensitive techniques - Quantitative Risk Assessment Understanding the whole dairy value chain to identify entry points for milk contamination Highlight economic impact of reducing milk born health hazards Development of easy, accurate and cheap field level tests for quick screening Monitoring, Legislation, Regulation Evidence based advocacy to inform policy decision for legislation
USAID Punjab Enabling Environment Project (PEEP) Government of Punjab Universities Development Objective Increased Incomes and Employment in Livestock, Dairy & Horticulture sectors Private Sector Entrepreneurs Civil Society Accelerate advocacy for policy, regulatory and institutional reforms through private sector Support institutional capacity building to sustain enabling environment reforms Mobilize major private sector investments in the target sectors Business service agencies
If you can t measure it, you can t manage it. 43